New windshield needed

[06pirate]

I need to replace the windshield on my 2006 Sierra SLT.  Looking for opinions/experiences with aftermarket vs OEM branded glass.  Difference in cost is a little over $200 here locally, which isn't all that much, but I don't want problems, and I don't want to save mponey with aftermarket only to have it have a short life.  Original cracked due to rock hit.  Thanks in advance.

[sefiroxx]

Most glass is made by busy a few, and distributed by many with different warranties etc. Unless you can identify the mfg, you can't rely on the distrbuter/installer to be able to tell you if they changed mfg or not on the single piece they showed up to install.

Cheapest install probably does not have insurance and is running out of a beater. Most expensive is branded, insured and product warranty plus paying the owner, the accountant, the admin and the installer. . . .

[aseibel]

They are all going to chip/ crack the next time you hit a rock, so why spend twice as much? There is no bulletproof glass available that you want to pay for. I've used safelite and another local shop to replace damaged OEM glass in the past. I find no difference. My current truck's OEM front glass has a tiny chip in the outer layer that they said was not worth replacing, so i'll just wait until i hit another rock.